In 1910 two and one-half million acres of forest burned in Montana and Northern Idaho, alerting forest managers to the need for systematic fire protection. In 1911, the Northern Montana Forestry Association was organized by private forest landowners to provide fire protection and forest preservation for the forests of Montana, particularly in Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders counties. The Association located their main office in Kalispell, and the first president was G. W Millett. Albert E. Boorman was secretary-treasurer and chief fire warden from 1911 to 1945; his son, Maurice E. Boorman, took over those offices the following year. The association charged members fees based on the acreage of timbered land that was under Northern Montana Forestry Association fire protection. The first assessment to the members was one-half cent an acre. They used the money for organizing and equipping fire suppression crews, fire detection, lookouts, and fire guards. Over the years, the original purpose expanded to include protection of the private forestlands from loss by disease and other causes. Summer fire crews, when not suppressing fires, performed associated duties such as road maintenance and brush clearing. Members included numerous lumber companies, private landowners, and large corporations like the Anaconda Company and the Northern Pacific Railroad. The association worked cooperatively with the U. S. Forest Service, Montana state agencies, and private timber companies for 59 years, and eventually provided fire protection for over one million acres and several thousand landowners.
In 1969 the Montana State Forestry Department took over the fire control duties of the Association and by June 1970, the Association was out of the fire fighting business. The Northern Montana Forestry Association remained incorporated and provided annual scholarships through the School of Forestry at the University of Montana in order to further the education of forestry students. In May 1990, the Board of Directors voted to discontinue the Northern Montana Forestry Association; the balance of their funds went to the Blackfoot Forest Protective Association.
From the guide to the Northern Montana Forestry Association records, 1907-1991, (Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)
